FITCHBURG -- The disbelief was very evident in Tom Bingham's voice Monday evening.

Standing outside the field house at the Bernardian Bowl, the St. Bernard's football coach tried to wrap his head around the idea that his team's annual Thanksgiving Eve clash with Lunenburg wouldn't happen this season.

The Blue Knights saw their season come to a close in the midst of an investigation of a hate crime against one of their players. Eighth-grader Isaac Phillips was the target of a racial slur spray-painted on his home Friday.

"First and foremost, Isaac and his family are definitely in St. Bernard's thoughts and prayers," Bingham said. "I think I can safely say I speak for the football team and the St. Bernard's community when I say that. It's a lot bigger than just a football game. We're thinking about him and the challenges that lie ahead for him and his family.

"I think we are in a little bit of shock, without a doubt. The actions of just a person or a few people hits so many others."

Lunenburg Superintendent of Schools Loxi Jo Calmes read from a release Monday evening, saying "Since the racial harassment investigations are ongoing, I am announcing the remaining football games of the season have been forfeited."

The forfeiture includes not only the Thanksgiving Eve tilt, but also last Friday's postponed game against Oakmont Regional.

Bingham said he had received texts and calls from St. Bernard's alumni from his 18 years at the school throughout the day.

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He said many of the messages regarded disappointment toward the game's cancellation and what has "become such a part of their Thanksgiving routine."

St. Bernard's Athletic Director Jim Beauregard said he understands why the decision was made and his "heart goes out to the family" for what they had been subjected to. He said the Bernardians are now looking at other avenues to close out their season.

"Obviously, our job now is to move forward," Beauregard said. "We're looking at other options that are out there and available to us. We were proactive and spoke to some other teams. We looked at that and will work it a little more diligently now that (the decision) is official.

"We have not closed the book on our football season."

To Bingham, an alternate end to the 2013 campaign is something he would welcome. He said that his seniors were eager to get on the field one more time against an opponent the Bernardians have faced annually since 1997.

"After Isaac, my thoughts go to our seniors. They found out that this happened before we got on the bus Friday night to go to West Boylston," Bingham said. "As a coach, you can look at your kids and tell the emotion. I had a knot in my stomach getting on the bus. The kids weren't talking about West Boylston; they were saying, 'Coach, is our Thanksgiving game going to be impacted?'

"We didn't have all the facts Friday night, so I don't think it was a selfish thought. They're kids."

But with the school pursuing possible options, Bingham is pleased and he thinks his team will accept it. After all, the coach said the Thanksgiving Eve game is always the biggest one of the year.

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